Director Statement
This Ganga Basin region has been the birth of civilization. The river is the soul of the country. Through the river flows its culture, religion, pride and spirit of the country. Now, the river is in danger, and so is the life that flows in it and is sustained by it. The tragedy of human beings is we do not recognize the beauty of what we have until it is in jeopardy.
This film was made as a twenty-minute PSA in 2005 about how Indians feel about the pollution around them. I am lucky to have made this 10-year long effort, now that the film is on iTunes. But this is just the beginning of the effort to educate, engage and inform. Now is the time to realize, act, and save this precious and limited resource.
Update
- In late 2010, the government agreed to declare a part of the Ganga River as an eco-sensitive zone to protect the rich biodiversity of the region.
- In late 2010, the National Ganga River Basin Authority approved to discontinue the creation of three hydro projects proposed on the river.
- In 2011, 36-year old Swami Nigamananda laid down his life for the Ganga by fasting for 4 months to stop the pollution and illegal mining upstream.
- In 2011, the Indian Cabinet approved the Project for cleaning of River Ganga to be implemented by the National Ganga River Basin Authority.
- In 2011, Indian officials signed an agreement with the World Bank to use a $1 billion loan to finance the first major new effort in more than 20 years to cleanse the revered Ganges. This project replaces the failed 1986 Ganga Action Plan, the last large-scale attempt to address the pollution.
Budget
Filmed for under $15,000 over a course of six years and five trips to over thirty locations around India. Partial funding was from a PSC-CUNY Research Grant, a Leonard & Tow Travel Grant, personal funds.